The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1887-04-27


ing first of the one absorbing idea which
had engrossed every faculty OF mind, and
how the passion of love had been first ex-
cited in my breast. When / had finished,
she answered, and as / listened, enrap-
tured. TO the utterance of that pure and
guileless heart, knew that was beloved,
not because l had preserved her from the
grave, but because / was worthy to be
loved!
The purposes of my narrative do not re-
quire that / should speak particularly of
the year that followed the recovery of Edna.
We were betrothed from that moment,
and from that moment new existence
opened to me. / toiled now, not merely for
fame, or to crafty myself by the exhibit
ton of my power, but for the more sub
stantial rewards of that toll which
had always been mine when
chose to take them. NV sue
cess continued undiminished; money came
to me at my command, and even Edna's
father now looked approvingly upon our
intimacy. The day had at length been set
for our union; and as it drew rapidly near
1 accustomed myself more and more to the
society of my betrothed waiting expect
antly for the time when il should be mine
exclusively.
Long practice perhaps, should say ex-
tensive-had accustomed me to detect signs
and symptoms, without my attention being
called to the person in whom they appeared.
And while sitting beside Edna one day, |
fancied that l could perceive IN her appear
ance some indications of indisposition. In
answer to my anxious questions, she at first
denied that she felt at all unwell, and then
confessed to a sensation of lassitude, of
physical WEAKNESS, which had already last
ed several days. There seemed 10 be moth
ing alarming in this. but as several DAYS
more elapsed and i secretly noticed that
this WEAKNESS seemed to increase. became
still more anxious. The symptoms seemed to
portend nothing; my medical information,
extensive as II was, suggested no bodily in
trinity which could begin thus, and l was
finally constrained to dismiss all apprehen-
sion from my mind.
Two days only interviewed before that
which had been appointed for our wedding.
1t had become necessity for me to call
upon Edna daily; and early in the evening
of the day which Is now referred TO, pre-
sented myself at the mansion, and babe the
servant inform her mistress that | was in
the parlor. l heard her steps as she ascend
ed the stairs; half minute more may have
elapsed, and then | heard scream from
Ednas chamber which sent my impetuous
blood back, curdling to my heart. A thou
sand ideas flashed instantly through the
dizzy chaos of my brain, and prominent
among them, the recollection of Edna's in
disposition of few days before. Spring
ing wildly up the stairway, l encountered
the girl at the landing. She was pale and
speechless, and could only point toward the
room of her mistress. fastening past her,
a dozen apprehensions preying at my heat,
/ entered il.
Edna lay upon the bed, and, as l adj
vanced, uttered her name. There was no
reply. l took her hand, and its icy cold
ness struck chill to my heart; exploring
the wrist discovered, to my horror. that it
was entirely pulseless! l investigated no
further why should I? The horrible,
Supplying truth that DEATH and / were
face to face, was already sufficiently APP
parent: and, every particle of physical and
mental vigor deserving me, fell forward
upon the couch ut her feet, and wept hot
and bitter tears of agony. There l was dis
covered when the alarm had spread, and
Mortified friends filled the apartment. And
there persisted in lying through the night,
inert and heart broken.
The following day passed drearily away,
as did also the next. Upon the third she
was to be buried. Never, for moment,
did i leave her. Even in the most insane
wanderings of my mind. as it reeled and
wavered under this awful blow, / could not
be persuaded to leave the presence of the
dead-my dead. Andup my urgent prayer,
before the coffin was brought which was to
shut her forever from my sight, was left
alone with the corpse. Edna lay before
me, smiling in placid beadty-not pale, not
white, but her face still roseate, as if with
the vital current; and vet how cold! Death
gracious heaven! was this, could il be,
death? Death-why and wherefore? What
was the secret, mysterious cause which had
worked her dissolution2 / asked the ques-
ton, and strove in vain to answer it, and
then, with bitter smile, confessed all my
study and labor to have been useless. 1t
mattered little that / was called great
among men-that had met and conquered
disease in every shape and form. "What
matters it, l said, in the bitterness of my
agony, "when this DEAR dead one lies be-
fore me, in whom all my life and love was
conferred, and / unable to save her-nay,
even to tell why she is not now, upon this
bridal day, uniting her vows with miner"
She had lain thus for almost three days,
cold and dead; yet my heart demanded the
test which should remove all doubt. and /
applied it. In yainl not q drop of blood
followed the stroke of the lancet; and with
one last, long kiss, I babe farewell to all
that remained of my beloved Edna before
the coffin-lid closed over her.